I grew up in Syracuse, so I've always been familiar with the NiMo building, and it always intrigued me. It's beautiful and very different from other downtown buildings.

Other students have illustrated the building, but usually from a distance. I was determined to have a close-up of the figure itself, because that's what the poem is about.

I do a lot of portraits, and that's what I wanted to do with the figure—express its humanity. It's not just a steel structure on a building—it's almost alive or real. I hope people will take a good look at it, appreciate it, and maybe have the same appreciation of the figure that I had. You know, people really don't take the time to look up at the building. So I hope that maybe that will happen.